Founding Operator Program · 5 spots · closes when filled

5 Shops. 5 Free Builds. One Condition.

I'm taking five founding clients into the Quiet Engine Operator Program. I'll build your custom inventory automation at no cost, up to 5 distributor feeds (a build worth up to $1,700). You give me a case study. If you're a dropshipper running a Shopify or eBay store on distributor feeds, this is built for you.

Apply for a spot → See regular pricing →

Build queue · 5 of 5 slots open Rolling acceptance · 72h response

OPEN

The program in 18 seconds Five shops · free build

// five founding spots · case study in exchange · $299/mo after

What you get Five things

Free custom build for up to 5 distributor feeds.

Up to five distributor feeds, custom-built for your supplier and your business rules. Margin tiers, MAP enforcement, multi-source reconciliation if you need it. Feeds 6+ are quoted at $300 each.

worth up to $1,700

First 30 days of full management.

Monitoring, alerts, feed-format patches. included.

$299 value

Direct line to the engineer.

That's me, Austin. You won't be passed to a junior.

Invaluable

Lifetime founding rate on retainer.

Locked at $299/mo even when standard pricing goes up.

$299 / mo · locked

Free 20–30 min discovery call first.

So I both know it's a fit before either side commits. If a $10/mo app would serve you better, I'll tell you on the call.

Always free

What I ask Four things, in plain English

I'm trading up to $1,700 of build labor for proof. Here's what proof looks like.

Written case study with real numbers.

Hours saved per week, oversells avoided, revenue impact, support tickets prevented. I draft it, you fact-check it, I publish it. Real numbers. Not "increased efficiency."
Recorded 5-minute video testimonial.

I send the questions ahead of time. You record on your laptop. I edit. Five minutes finished. Not a polished commercial. An honest answer to "would you recommend this to another shop owner."
Permission to name the distributor in marketing.

The distributor name needs to be real. That's the whole point of the proof. Your shop name can stay anonymized if you prefer.
Six-month retainer commitment.

After the free first 30 days. At founding pricing, $299/mo for a single feed. Cancel any month after the six. I'm not locking you in. I just need enough runway to prove the maintenance side of the work, not just the build.

The honest math Year-one comparison

// year_one_pricing.txt diff · founding vs. standard

Standard pricing (3-feed example):
  Build:       $500 first feed + $300 × 2 more   =  $1,100
  Months 1–12: $299 × 12                          =  $3,588
  Year-one total:                                 =  $4,688

Founding pricing (same 3-feed example):
  Build:       $0
  Month 1:     $0 (first 30 days free)
  Months 2–12: $299 × 11                          =  $3,289
  Year-one total:                                 =  $3,289
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
You save:    $1,399  (build + first month)
I get:      a written case study and a recorded testimonial

Who this is for Five criteria

A short, honest list. Be one of these.

Shopify GMV $500k+ (any category)
Pulling inventory from at least one distributor feed (FTP, SFTP, HTTP, or API)
Currently handling sync manually, or with a tool that's not quite working
Willing to be quoted by name and recorded on video
Can commit to a kickoff call within 7 days of acceptance

Timeline From application to live sync

// founding_timeline.txt updated · 2026-05-12

APPLICATIONS OPEN     · NOW
ROLLING ACCEPTANCE    · WITHIN 72 HOURS
KICKOFF               · 7 DAYS OF ACCEPTANCE
BUILD DELIVERY        · 14 DAYS OF KICKOFF
PROGRAM CLOSES        · WHEN 5 SPOTS FILLED

FAQ Five honest answers

Questions I keep getting.

Why is the Founding Program free?

Straight trade. You get the build (up to 5 feeds) and the first 30 days of management at no cost. I get a written case study and a recorded 5-minute testimonial I can use in marketing. Both sides leave with something real.

What happens after the 6-month minimum?

Cancel anytime. I export the workflow, hand you the keys, and document maintenance. You keep the work.

What if my distributor isn't on your list?

If they have an FTP, SFTP, HTTP, or API feed, I can almost certainly handle it. Mention them in the application.

Who actually builds it?

Austin, personally. No contractors, no juniors. Every founding build is done by the engineer you'll be working with directly.

What if I don't want to be named publicly?

I can anonymize the shop name. The distributor name and the metrics need to be real. Non-negotiable on those two.